The diplomats discussed Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program and North Korea's relations with Japan. Tokyo says it wants to include the issue of the kidnapping of several Japanese citizens by North Korea in 1970s and `80s within the framework of the nuclear talks.

Pyongyang returned to the negotiations earlier this month after a one-year boycott. The talks were recessed earlier this month after disagreements surfaced over North Korea's insistence to retain a civilian nuclear program.

The chief U.S. negotiator in the talks Christopher Hill, says the issue is not a "show stopper" that could potentially derail the talks.